So was it a fundraiser or wasn't it? Well, that depends on who you ask.

Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney was criticized recently for attending a Carole King and James Taylor "concert" in Washington, D.C., during which representatives of PAC (Political Action Committee) groups were asked to pay $2,500 to join Maloney for a little one-on-one face time in a private suite, or VIC (Very Important Congresswoman) room.

Maloney, however, contends that the event wasn't a fundraiser and that, as far as she knows, there were no lobbyists anywhere to be seen, at least not with her own eyes. In fact, she only went to the James Taylor concert because a) she loves gently plucked adult contemporary saccharine folk music sung by tender aging men; b) she finds the song "You've Got a Friend" particularly poignant; and c) speaking of friends, her good friend Carole King (THUD! That's the sound of some serious name-dropping, goslings.) invited her.

Complicating Maloney's version of events, however, is the invitation to the event specifically states it's a fundraiser for Carolyn Maloney.

At issue is the fact that Maloney is involved in putting the finishing touches on a financial overhaul bill that will undoubtedly have serious ramifications for Wall Street, and Pol Position is sure a lobbyist or two wouldn't mind shelling out, say, $2,500 to bend the ear of the fine congresswoman. However, since the list of attendees hasn't been made public, it's unclear whether any lobbyists actually attended the event.

At any rate, it's certainly not illegal for Maloney to hold a fundraiser, she does have a challenger for her seat this year in Reshma Saujani, it's just the timing that has raised a few eyebrows. But what really raised our eyebrows here at Pol Position was the performers. Really, James Taylor and Carole King? Blah. Couldn't have booked the recently reunited Faith No More?